Nadal faces race against time for Roland-Garros as unhealed injury forces him to pull out of Madrid

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has not played since his injury-plagued loss in the second round of the Australian Open in January

Rafael Nadal at the 2023 Australian Open Image Credit: AI/Reuters/Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

April 20, 2023

14-time Roland-Garros champion Rafael Nadal has officially pulled out of next week’s Madrid Masters as he has not recovered completely from the hip injury he sustained at the Australian Open in January.

Nadal has not played since being visibly hampered by the injury during his second round loss in Melbourne to American Mackenzie McDonald. He also pulled out of the Indian Wells and Miami Masters in March and the first two big events of the European clay court season, Monte-Carlo and Barcelona.

In a vide message posted on social media, Nadal said it had been a difficult few weeks with his injury remaining unhealed and there has been a change in the course of his treatment, leading him to pull out of Madrid.

Hola a todos. Hace un tiempo que no me comunico directamente con vosotros. Han sido unas semanas y unos meses difíciles. Como sabéis me hice una una lesión importante en Australia, en el Psoas. pic.twitter.com/m0TbsGFn5t
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 20, 2023

“Hello everyone. (I) haven’t communicated with you guys directly in a while. It’s been a rough few weeks and months. As you know I suffered a major injury in Australia, in the Psoas. Initially it had to be a six-to-eight week recovery period and we’re on to number 14. The reality is that the situation is not what we had hoped for,” Nadal said in the message. “All medical directions have been followed, but somehow the evolution has not been what we were initially told and we find ourselves in a situation that is difficult. The weeks are passing and I had the illusion of being able to play in tournaments that are the most important in my career such as Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Roland-Garros and at the moment I missed Monte-Carlo and Barcelona. (I also) won’t be able to be in Madrid unfortunately.”

“I have no choice but to work and be with the right mindset”- Nadal

The 36-year-old Spaniard, who has dropped to No 14 in the world rankings due to his inactivity, said he does not have a definite timeline as to when he would be able to return but he will continue to do whatever he can in order to return before the clay season ends.

“The injury is still unhealed and I can’t work what I need to in order to compete. I was training, but now a few days ago, we decided to change course a bit, do another treatment and see if things improve to try and get to what comes. I can’t give deadlines because if I knew I would tell you all but i don’t know. This is the current situation. I also want to send a special greeting to all the fans of Madrid and Spanish because I will have missed the two tournaments that are played here at home. All I have left is to try to keep the right attitude all this time, try to give myself a chance to compete in some of the tournaments left of the clay season and I have no choice but to work and be with the right mindset. A very strong hug to everyone and as soon as I have news I will inform you. Thank you!!”

There is one more ATP Masters Series event on clay, the Rome Masters, which begins on May 8 while the French Open kicks off on May 28, leaving the Spaniard with a race against time to be ready for the biggest tournament of the season for him.